SoBoCo defense rules in rivalry

The SoBoCo Eagles boys basketball team kept on rolling Friday night as they steamrolled their way over rival Hallsville with a 65-47 win.

SoBoCo’s Sam Stichnote brough the crowd to its feet with a slam dunk.

In what was thought to be a re-match of a close Southern Boone Classic championship game, the Eagles grabbed an early lead and held it throughout, coasting to a 65-47 Tri-County Conference win.

SoBoCo took an 11-7 first quarter lead, but Sam Stichnote and Rece Gilmore got the Eagles offensive engine in gear in the second quarter.

Stichnote jammed home a massive dunk to bring the crowd to its feet, Gilmore sank a 3-pointer to build a 20-13 lead. The Eagles led at halftime 25-17.

“We came alive a bit at the end of the first and second quarters,” said Eagles coach Andy Jahnsen, “and that set the tone for the game.”

Brady Trammell found the range in the third period with a 3-pointer and Gilmore hit another pair of baskets as the Eagles stayed in control at 37-29 at the end of three quarters.

Seth Mueller received a perfect pass from Stichnote to start the final quarter to stretch the Eagles lead to 39-29 – their largest lead of the game. From there, the Eagles were deadly at the foul line as Stichnote, Gilmore and Trammell all connected on multiple attempts.

SoBoCo built the lead to 49-39 and Trammell was fouled as he hit a layup, Gilmore hit a pair of free throws and Stichnote had a massive block on the defensive end – which gave the Black Hole student section plenty of reason to cheer.